Courts / Dublin / Report

Eight years for firing machine gun into family home

Date
2020-11-13

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Tallaght

County
Dublin

Summary

In March 2019, Laurence Grocott, aged 36, fired a machine gun through the front window of a Dublin family home while two children were inside. He pointed the gun at the mother's face and, after she shouted that children were present, he fired two shots that struck the mantelpiece. CCTV footage showed the children cowering and the mother's panic as she moved them to safety. Grocott pleaded guilty to creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm and to unlawful possession of the submachine gun. He also received a separate two‑year sentence for drug possession. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting the premeditated and indiscriminate nature of the attack, imposed an eight‑year prison term, suspending the final year on condition of peacekeeping for one year, for a final operative sentence of ten years with one year suspended. The case highlighted Grocott's history of drug abuse and prior convictions.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Eight years for firing machine gun into family home. Charges or matters: creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to others by discharging a firearm on March 3, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 3, 2019 Incident
March 22, 2017 Incident
2020-11-13 Publication

Case subjects

Laurence Grocott

Defendant

Charges: creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to others by discharging a firearm on March 3, 2019 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: She imposed a sentence of eight years. Judge O'Connor suspended the final year on condition Grocott keep the peace for one year, giving a final operative prison sentence of ten years with one suspended.